San Francisco Chronicle
(TNS)
Jun. 27—An Oakland firefighter drowned while swimming at a San Diego beach with family and friends early Thursday morning, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokespersons said.
Oakland fire officials identified the man as Caeden Laffan, a 25-year-old Oakland firefighter and paramedic. He had graduated Oakland Fire Department's Recruit Academy in 2019, Oakland fire officials said.
A little after 2 a.m., people at the beach with the firefighter reported that he had gone missing while swimming near Pacific Beach's Crystal Pier.
"They were out late at night," San Diego fire spokespersons told the Chronicle. "He got into the water and never returned. It's pretty dark out there at night."
City lifeguards and personnel conducted a search of the area for two hours, spokespersons said. Just before 5 a.m., they came across a body that had washed ashore not far from where the swimmer was reported missing, just north of the pier.
Laffan's father, Sean Laffan, was an Oakland Fire Department assistant chief who died in the line of duty in November 2020, Oakland fire officials said. He was 42.
"Caeden Laffan was a young enthusiastic member of the Oakland Fire Department, with a bright future ahead of him, and we're all heartbroken today after learning of this tragic event," Fire Chief Damon Covington said. "Our hearts go out to the entire Laffan family, and all who know him, worked with him, and loved him. The Laffan family and I sincerely appreciate the coordination and support of the San Diego Fire Department as our members continue to respond and grieve."
San Diego fire spokespersons said they contacted the Oakland fire chief earlier Thursday morning to let him know "just out of a professional courtesy to him," and to offer their condolences to the department.
San Diego fire department chaplains were on scene attending to the "dozen or so" family and friends who were very "distraught and upset," spokespersons said.
Oakland fire officials said the details of what led to his passing are still being "pieced together," but at the time, drowning appeared to be the cause of death.
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